Can I just say how beautiful my friend Amber is. And I don't just mean on the outside, she is even more beautiful on the inside! Originally I met Amber through my brother when we were in college. She was my brother's best friend, so I guess I should have known that we would get along, but it took us a few years after we both graduated to reconnect. She is someone I admire for her emotional strength, zest for life, and for being true to herself. Amber is just a genuine person!She came to my house to help me play with some new studio lights I got for Christmas (yes, it took me this long to open the box and figure out how to use them). I ended up getting frustrated with the lights so we went outside to catch the golden hour of sunlight - that hour right before the sun goes below the horizon. I didn't give Amber any directions, she just started picking all the giant dandelion puffs in the field and the golden sun illuminated everything perfectly!

A couple nights ago I let the dog outside and noticed a stunning thunderstorm lighting up the sky just north of our house. It was the kind of storm where none of the lightning actually hits the ground - it's all contained within the storm cell. So I grabbed my camera and tripod and set up shop in my backyard. The lightning was so abundant and frequent that I kept pushing the shutter button, crossing my fingers that I would get that one epic shot.As the thunderstorm rolled away and got smaller in the distance, I decided to call it a night. I set my camera in front of my computer and went to bed.

The next morning, when I looked at the photos, I noticed quite a few of airplanes streaking through my frames. Since we live close to Denver International Airport, this was normal, and actually made for some cool shots. To be honest I was extremely jealous of the people on the plane! They got a front row seat to the best light show I've seen in a long time!

As I continued to glance over the photos, something bright caught my eye. I stared at it, trying to analyze it, and realized that it wasn't an airplane... it was a meteor!! All the airplanes in my shots had been streaking from the bottom right corner to the top left corner. This streak was going directly across the top of the frame in the opposite direction. The streak pattern was also different. All the airplane streaks had a definitive start and finish, with intermittent light flashes from the wing lights. This streak was big and bright at the front and tapered off to nothing at the end, and when I bumped up the exposure, I could see a second streak very faintly next to the main meteor. My mind was blown! I checked the two photos before and after this one and I also caught the meteor entering the atmosphere (barely glowing) and as it fizzled out. In the image it looks like the meteor is traveling up, but when I clicked through all three images, it is actually traveling horizontally towards me and to the right. Below are the images!

Lightning storm with meteor at the top of the frame. Also shows airplane at bottom right.

Main meteor and secondary meteor.

Airplane streak pattern #1

Airplane streak pattern #2

Below are the three meteor shots in a row - keep in mind they are extremely over exposed to show the meteor streaks!

Isn't that awesome!? I also got a bunch of other shots of the lighting storm. Two of my favorites are below!

Police Officers,Thank you so much for your service! We know your job is hard and it is obvious that emotions are high right now. A lot needs to be done to heal but what we need now, more than ever, is love and unity. So I want to show you some love!

They met at a wedding, not knowing it was foreshadowing what was to come two years later. Chris' job in the railroad industry took him away for days at a time, but during that time away Amber couldn't help but think what they had was something different, sometime special. She had found that person with whom she could be herself and she breathed a sigh of happiness and relief. Three years later they met again at a wedding, except this time Chris was standing at the altar and Amber was in a white dress.

Amber and Chris married at the Black Canyon Inn in Estes Park next to swaying pine trees and the sounds of elk (which later we found out were cows). They promised to stand by each others' side no matter what but, more importantly, they promised to love each other unconditionally and forever. As Dr. Seuss once wrote “You're off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So... Chris, now kiss your bride and get on your way!”

Amber and Chris had stunning rings made by the talented Warren Hannon Jeweler. I must admit I have never seen a band like Chris'!

They had custom vow books made where they wrote their hand-written vows to one another.

Amber and Chris' first look was over the bridge on the little island at Black Canyon Inn.

Chris couldn't believe his eyes when he saw how beautiful Amber looked in that white dress and veil.

Amber chose navy blue for the bridal party to wear and pink for the flowers. A Florae did an amazing job on the bouquets and centerpieces!

Amber and her bridesmaids' rockstar makeup is thanks to Brides by Rosanne. Rosanne really has a talent!

Chris and his groomsmen looked pretty dapper in their navy blue suits and boutonnieres.

Their wedding day was filled with a mix of weather: clouds, rain, lightning, sun, and clouds again. But nothing could dampen the happiness and anticipation that swirled around Amber and Chris as they waited to say "I Do" at the Black Canyon Inn.

The flower girl and the ring security were just about the cutest things ever!

Since Amber teaches music, she had to have Nobility Strings play at her ceremony.

She couldn't keep her eyes off Chris as she floated down the aisle, getting closer and closer to saying "I Do".

Being the sweet, sweet person she is, Amber couldn't help but cry tears of happiness during the ceremony.

Their first kiss as husband and wife was one of softness. They felt no need to make a big display because they knew they would have a lifetime to do that.

They walked hand in hand back down the aisle with a new found lightness as the new Mr. and Mrs. Senst.

The clouds finally cleared and gave us a peak at the mountains behind the Black Canyon Inn. Remember that delicate first kiss? This was the opposite - it was passionate, happy, and full of relief to finally be Mr. and Mrs.

Amber's stunning dress and veil were from David's Bridal. I don't think Chris cared though, all he wanted to do was kiss his beautiful wife!

It was finally time for some ice cream scooping, which they decided to do instead of cake.

Amber and Chris had custom spoons made with "Mr. Senst" and "Mrs. Senst" stamped on the scoop just for the ice cream tasting. They did a pretty graceful bite swap too, until Chris got mischievous...

Don't worry, Amber got her revenge!

Amber and Chris, it was such a joy and honor to have captured your wedding day! You were always cracking jokes and allowed me to see how deep and real your love is for one another. By the time your wedding day came, I felt more like your friend than your photographer! I wish you all the best and I genuinely hope we get to see each other soon!